Latest news with #HarlenWheatley
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
America's oldest-running distillery reopens after historic floods
Frankfort, Kentucky — For more than two centuries, the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfurt, Kentucky, has bottled up scores of spirits on its 400-acre campus. But America's oldest-running distillery ground to a halt last month amid historic and deadly flooding, when Buffalo Trace master distiller Harlen Wheatley says the nearby Kentucky River rose to over 48 feet. "Every building that you see had four or five feet of water in it, all over…the site," Wheatley told CBS News. Tyler Adams, the distillery's general manager, says Buffalo Trace has weathered storms before, including a campus-wide flood in 1978 and tornado speed winds damaging multiple buildings in 2006. "We've been through prohibition, other floods, tornadoes that took off part of a warehouse," Adams said. The bourbon crafters said there are no plans to move to higher ground. "We have no plans of slowing down," Wheatley said. "…That water's just a speed bump." Crews hurried to restore tanks ahead of the distillery's busiest days, dubbed "Derby Week" by locals ahead of Saturday's Kentucky Derby. "You need bourbon, you need mint juleps, and you need horses," local Colleen Calvy said. "Otherwise, it's not derby." And visitors flocking to the Run for the Roses also raced to Buffalo Trace's gift shop this week, as the distillery reopened for limited tours and tastings. Layne Wilkerson, Frankfort's mayor, says the soft reopening marks a step in the right direction for a community still reeling from disaster. "It's an iconic part of our identity here in Frankfort," Wilkerson said. "Bourbon, of course, is one of our major industries." Wheatley says seeing the distillery back up and running "means something to us too." "We have 770 employees," Wheatley said. "We have a lot of families that depend on the we want to be up and running." Daughter reflects on iconic photo that shows reunion with her father, a Vietnam prisoner of war Kentucky distillery defies historic flooding and reopens for "Derby Week" Trump's AI photo of him as pope sparks worldwide outrage
CBS News
04-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
America's oldest-running distillery, still reeling from historic floods, reopens in time for the Kentucky Derby
Frankfort, Kentucky — For more than two centuries, the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfurt, Kentucky, has bottled up scores of spirits on its 400-acre campus. But America's oldest-running distillery ground to a halt last month amid historic and deadly flooding, when Buffalo Trace master distiller Harlen Wheatley says the nearby Kentucky River rose to over 48 feet. "Every building that you see had four or five feet of water in it, all over…the site," Wheatley told CBS News. Tyler Adams, the distillery's general manager, says Buffalo Trace has weathered storms before, including a campus-wide flood in 1978 and tornado speed winds damaging multiple buildings in 2006. "We've been through prohibition, other floods, tornadoes that took off part of a warehouse," Adams said. The bourbon crafters said there are no plans to move to higher ground. "We have no plans of slowing down," Wheatley said. "…That water's just a speed bump." Crews hurried to restore tanks ahead of the distillery's busiest days, dubbed "Derby Week" by locals ahead of Saturday's Kentucky Derby. "You need bourbon, you need mint juleps, and you need horses," local Colleen Calvy said. "Otherwise, it's not derby." And visitors flocking to the Run for the Roses also raced to Buffalo Trace's gift shop this week, as the distillery reopened for limited tours and tastings. Layne Wilkerson, Frankfort's mayor, says the soft reopening marks a step in the right direction for a community still reeling from disaster. "It's an iconic part of our identity here in Frankfort," Wilkerson said. "Bourbon, of course, is one of our major industries." Wheatley says seeing the distillery back up and running "means something to us too." "We have 770 employees," Wheatley said. "We have a lot of families that depend on the we want to be up and running."
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Buffalo Trace assesses damage as cleanup from flooding continues
FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — After Buffalo Trace Distillery was hit hard by the recent flooding, the distillery has started a full-scale cleanup and recovery across its campus in Frankfort. For more than 200 years, Buffalo Trace Distillery has been dedicated to one craft: making bourbon. While the focus is still there, it's shifting just a little to focus on recovery. RELATED l Buffalo Trace extends distillery's closure as floodwaters begin to recede 'In our 200+ year history, we have lived through a few floods,' said Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley. 'This past week has been the latest in one of the most severe that we've seen.' Relentless rainfall beginning April 2 drenched most of the state, leaving many, like Buffalo Trace officials, to deal with the damage left behind. Floodwaters at Buffalo Trace have receded, and with hope on the horizon, recovery efforts have started. 'The total extent of the damage is still being determined, but so far it includes many of our buildings on campus, from production buildings to Bourbon Pompeii, Stillhouse, and the guest experience buildings such as our visitor center,' Wheatley added. Wheatley said hundreds of trade experts are working around the clock to assist with cleanup. 'As we bring buildings and equipment back into service, our teams are also ensuring that there is no compromise to our quality,' said Wheatley. He said the core of their operation, including the distribution center and bottling facility, remained unaffected. 'Thus distribution began today,' Wheatley said. 'We actually shipped out this morning, first load. The distillery team is working toward resuming bottling operations as early as next week.' Even in tough times, bourbon doesn't lose its standards, which is why inspections of barrels started Thursday and will continue until each one has been fully reviewed. Some barrels were lost during the flooding, according to general manager Tyler Adams. Buffalo Trace assesses damage as cleanup from flooding continues Republican, 'other' voters see an increase as Kentucky's voter rolls shrink Increased lunch prices off the table after budget workshop, Fayette County school leaders say 'Inspection is expected to take several weeks; however, we do not expect to experience any meaningful loss of our inventory,' added Wheatley. He said they are working to welcome the public back in a modified capacity next week. For now, the distillery remains closed through Sunday, April 13. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
11-04-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Buffalo Trace officials inspecting bourbon as cleanup continues after Kentucky flooding
Despite substantial damage to the Frankfort campus during this month's major flood event, Buffalo Trace Distillery officials report they hope to reopen the company's bottling operation next week, as well reopen to visitors on a limited basis. At a Friday news conference in the parking lot of one of the state's most popular bourbon producers, officials reported many of the buildings were flooded and a full-scale cleanup is underway. Buffalo Trace Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley, who has been in that role for 20 years, briefed reporters on recovery efforts. In the distillery's 200-plus year history, Wheatley noted Buffalo Trace has survived several floods, but this latest disaster was 'one of the most severe that we've seen.' Days of non-stop rain that began April 2 soaked much of the state, swelling rivers and waterways and leaving seven people dead. One silver lining for Buffalo Trace is flood waters have completely receded from the distillery's campus, allowing recovery efforts to get underway. Clean up crews and water trucks fanned out across the site Friday morning, which hummed with activity. Hundreds of trade experts and professionals are assisting with the clean up, Wheatley said. 'Our distribution center and main bottling operation did not take on flood waters and thus distribution began today. We actually shipped out this morning,' Wheatley told reporters April 11. 'The distillery team is working toward resuming bottling operations as early as next week.' Wheatley added the distillery's guest experience team is working to welcome the public back in a 'modified capacity' next week. That involves extending email invites to visitors with scheduled tours interrupted by the flooding, Wheatley said, adding more details will be released on the distillery's social media channels. For now, the distillery will remain closed to visitors through Sunday, April 13. 'We are committed to welcoming visitors back' as we lead up to the Kentucky Derby, Tyler Adams, general manager, said Friday. When the public returns, there will be a modified retail experience available in the visitor check-in building next to the parking lot, Wheatley said. Distillery officials said they are inspecting barrels for damage and contact with floodwater, and do not have a number on the possible barrels affected. The process is expected to take several weeks. Staff had moved some barrels of bourbon to upper floors ahead of the prolonged rain event. They do not expect any meaningful loss of inventory, Wheatley said. Initially Tuesday, Buffalo Trace announced it would temporarily close due to the extensive flooding from the nearby Kentucky River. 'While assessments are still ongoing, what we have learned so far is that impact to infrastructure across the distillery is substantial,' an April 10 new release stated. Officials said Friday they do not expect job losses as a result of the disaster. Wheatley thanked the Buffalo Trace team and community for their support. 'We've also been touched by the enormous outreach of many offers to help us clean up,' Wheatley said. Do you have a question about weather or the climate in Kentucky? Our service journalism team would like to hear from you. Fill out the form below or email ask@
